In a thrilling BOC Life Hong Kong Premier League encounter at Mong Kok Stadium on Saturday (March 15), Lee Man secured a crucial 1:0 victory over Kitchee, claiming all three points.

Kitchee showed early intent when Sherzod Temirov unleashed a powerful right-footed effort from the edge of the area following a precise through ball from Rey Aaron, but the Lee Man goalkeeper was equal to the task.

The momentum shifted as Lee Man's Everton Camargo carved out space brilliantly in the 12th minute, but his curling left-footed attempt from the edge of he box sailed agonizingly over the crossbar.

The pressure continued to mount when Lee Man's Henri Anier combined beautifully with Tachibana Ryoya in the 19th minute, forcing Kitchee's goalkeeper into a spectacular diving save to deny a goal-bound strike.

Lee Man's dominance grew as Mitchel Paulissen orchestrated a swift attacking move, finding Wong Wai in space, but the keeper showed excellent positioning to neutralize the danger.

On the stroke of half-time, Wong Wai's pinpoint free-kick delivery found Tafazolli Sirous unmarked, but his glancing header drifted inches wide of the upright.

The teams headed into the tunnel deadlocked at 0:0 after an intensely fought first period.

Kitchee emerged from the break with renewed vigor, as Fernando Augusto's precise set-piece delivery found Luis Machado, who picked out Chen Ngo Hin, but his powerful header failed to trouble the keeper.

The match continued to ebb and flow, with Lee Man crafting another golden opportunity through some intricate link-up play between Mitchel Paulissen and Tachibana Ryoya, forcing another magnificent save from the alert goalkeeper.

The deadlock was finally broken in the 67th minute when Mitchel Paulissen's defense-splitting through ball released Everton Camargo, who showed ice-cold composure to slot home past the onrushing keeper, making it 1:0.

Drama unfolded in the 73rd minute as Lee Man thought they had doubled their advantage through Henri Anier's clinical finish, only for VAR to intervene and chalk off the goal due to Everton Camargo's earlier infringement.

The tension reached fever pitch when Kitchee had their own goal disallowed in the 78th minute. Fernando Augusto's inch-perfect free-kick found Sherzod Temirov, who connected with Ngan Cheuk Pan's cross, but the celebrations were cut short as VAR detected an offside in the build-up.

In a frantic finale, Kitchee launched a barrage of attacks, with both Matheus Dantas and Sherzod Temirov coming agonizingly close to finding an equalizer, but Lee Man's resolute goalkeeper stood firm with a series of crucial saves.

When the final whistle echoed around Mong Kok Stadium, Lee Man had secured a precious three points in this high-stakes encounter by a 1:0 victory over Kitchee.

Kitchee 0:1 Lee Man